The Karnataka government will accelerate the installation of Solar Rooftop Photovoltaic (SRTPV) systems on government buildings under the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana, the state energy department said on Monday. The move is intended to expand on existing rooftop capacity and support the state's renewable energy objectives. Implementation will align with central guidelines and leverage existing state energy resources to accelerate deployment.

An internal assessment indicated potential for SRTPV installation on close to 59,000 government buildings across the state, but only 2,624 buildings have such systems installed to date, according to a recent departmental report. The contrast underlines the scale of the planned rollout and frames the department's accelerated timeline. Assessments will evaluate structural suitability and potential for net metering integration.

Energy Minister K J George said that solarisation of government buildings will reduce dependence on conventional power and further promote the use of renewable energy, and officials said the programme will target reductions in carbon emissions and improvements in energy sustainability. He said the initiative will contribute to greater energy security for government facilities. Officials added that the programme will aim to reduce electricity bills for public institutions, ease peak demand pressure on the state grid and create opportunities for local vendors and technicians.

The energy department will prioritise public buildings with high electricity demand, undertake rooftop assessments and coordinate with implementing agencies under the central scheme to expedite procurement and installation. Officials indicated that standardised contracts and a project management framework will be used to streamline approvals and commissioning. Financing will draw on central scheme subsidies, budgetary allocations and partnerships with private developers to expedite rollouts.

Implementation will require technical surveys to assess structural and electrical suitability and establishing operations and maintenance arrangements to ensure long term performance. The department said efforts will include capacity building for local teams and monitoring of generation to capture savings and inform broader state policy. The department will establish monitoring dashboards and periodic audits to measure generation, capture savings and inform policy adjustments.